Joseph “Mang0” Marquez, one of Super Smash Bros. Melee‘s most celebrated players, issued a public apology on June 23 following inappropriate behavior during a high-profile livestreamed event. What happened saw Mang0 get visibly intoxicated and engage in unwanted sexual gestures, including air-humping individuals despite requests to stop.
In his statement, Mang0 admitted to having a serious problem with alcohol, writing that he “let so many people down” and that he feels “broken” over his actions. The Smash pro took full responsibility, asking fans not to defend him, and vowed to “stop drinking immediately and get it together.”
The fallout was quick. Ludwig confirmed that Mang0 would be banned from future Mogul Moves events, marking a significant professional consequence for the popular player.
This isn’t Mang0’s first alcohol-related controversy. The 33-year-old has built part of his brand around his “Drunken Mang0” persona, which has led to previous Twitch bans and public incidents. He has attempted to quit drinking before with mixed results.
As one of Melee’s “Five Gods” and a Cloud9-sponsored player since 2014, Mang0’s behavior carries significant weight in the competitive gaming community. His championship wins and charismatic streaming style have earned him a dedicated fanbase who now watch as he promises to address his issues.
What went down also points to bigger questions about alcohol use in streaming culture, where drinking on camera has become normalized despite possible consequences. For many viewers, Mang0’s situation brings up the sometimes blurry line between entertaining content and problematic behavior.
